Title: The Guardian – Book II
Chapter 2 – Becoming Blue?

As Jamie waits in the ER waiting room for Henry, his mind starts to recall the time that he was stabbed by Sonny and Frank and Henry came into their apartment and Frank picked him up and carried him into the truck and then into the ER. Henry never left his side and they even went so far as to pay the bill from all that. It was the turning point for all of them and was something he'd never forget.

Now he stands somewhat helplessly in the ER, waiting for Henry and trying to come up with a plausible explanation for why he called an ambulance to take a homeless man without medical insurance or any known family member to come forward and pay for the costs.

"Jamie?"

"Grandpa!" Jamie replies without even thinking as he turns and rushes up to Henry. "You have t…"

"What happened?" Henry asks in haste as he looks at the bruise on Jamie's cheek and jaw and the cut on his lower lip. "Jamie…who did this?" Henry asks. His mind always revels in the loving term that Jamie uses to address him, but his loving concern for the young teen would always outweigh his ego. "Jamie…"

"Two guys. They were beating up George and I…I couldn't let them. I didn't know what else to do. I just called 911 and the ambulance came and then…I'll pay for the bill. I promise okay? I just n…"

"Whoa slow down a bit," Henry puts his hand on Jamie's arm and stops his speech. "First off are you okay?"

"Yes."

"Were you hit anywhere else?"

"No. I'm okay. I'm worried about George. He wasn't breathing. He has to be okay."

"Okay who's in charge?"

"Uh…him," Jamie points to the ER physician in charge; Henry walking up to him with Jamie in tow.

"Henry. What brings you here?" The older man asks as he looks at Jamie's roughed up appearance. "Something happen to your grandson?"

Jamie's eyes slightly widen as he looks at the strange doctor and then up at Henry with a soft wondering glance.

"I'm okay Earl. He called in an attack on a George Williams."

"George. Yes. He suffered quite the beating tonight."

"He'll be okay right?" Jamie asks with a pleading tone as he looks up at Henry in desperation.

"What's his diagnosis?" Henry asks seriously.

"Suffered a mild heart attack. Concussion. Two broken ribs and a few deep cuts and bruises."

"Can we see him?"

"3C. Come and see me before you go."

Jamie follows after Henry as they enter the quiet examination room; his mind flooding back with tension filled memories of when he was stabbed and then again after the assault from his boss's friend Kevin.

"Jamie? You can come…oh…you okay?" Henry asks in concern as he notices Jamie hanging back by the entrance. "Was it this room?" He asks as Jamie nods and tries to keep his eyes from brimming. "Oh sweet boy ," Henry sighs as he gives Jamie a half hug. "Want to wait outside?"

Jamie peers past Henry and looks at George's still frame and then up at Henry and shakes his head. "I'll be okay. I just want to see how he is."

"Okay."

Henry's arm drapes protectively around Jamie's slender shoulders as they slowly walks toward George's beside.

"I'll pay for his bill."

Henry offers Jamie a tender smile before he explains. "George is a veteran so what'll happen is they'll cover his first visit and then transfer him to the Manhattan campus that specializes in veteran medical care."

"And then?"

"Then…well he can't stay there so…"

"What? He can't go back and sleep on the street after this!" Jamie shoots back in protest. But just as Jamie says that, George's eyes open and two worlds instantly collide.

XXXXXXXX

"See you tomorrow!" Ralph calls out as he takes his leave, Danny lingering in the staff room, reading Jamie's text about George and then thinking about what Ralph had said about his brother and his wife leaving him. 'He's a cop…they drifted apart…work was his life…two boys…shouldn't have gotten married…wish they could go back…make the right choice – not each other.'

Danny pushes his away outside into the late afternoon air and literally exhales heavily as he heads toward his waiting car. If I cancel dinner on her now she'll wonder…I have no good excuse…well I kinda do…she deserves better and…Frank was married with children and his wife didn't leave; neither did Henry's! His mind argues back.

He gets into the car and slowly heads for home, wondering how Jamie's faring and how he can just let go of what Ralph told him.

"Hello?"

"Hey!" Erin calls back as Danny enters the living room and sees her sitting at the desk working on her laptop. "You alone?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Yeah, where is Jamie?"

"Jamie's helping his homeless friend in the hospital and I think Henry's with him."

"Is he okay?"

"Said he was attacked. I'm sure Henry will figure it out. How was your fieldtrip?"

"Actually it was pretty good. I got to overheard two of the state's top lawyers arguing," Erin retorts with a small smirk. "It was very enlightening. And then…we saw a guy get hit by a bus. How was work?"

"Enlightening," Danny retorts with a smirk before his face turns serious. "Wait…bus?" He asks as Erin nods. "Ok-ay. What happened?"

She tells him all about the more eventful part of her day but does so and holds his attention captive for about half hour. After that he excuses himself and then heads into his bedroom to put his work stuff away. He pulls his phone and looks at Linda's text – one he had gotten a few hours ago but at the time was in such an emotional quandary as to tell her or just let himself sit and stew on it. And that's what he did.

'Hey sorry. Work was nuts. But okay. How was your day?-Danny'

He puts his phone aside and then takes some pre-reading for the academy that he had gotten from Officer Renzulli and heads back into the shared family room where Erin already is; his mind made up to talk to Frank later on that night about him and his wife and if he'd ever go back and change anything.

XXXXXXX

"I need to…leave."

"Just wait a second," Henry gently pushes George back down to the bed. "You can just rest here."

"Don't belong here and don't want to go to no damn special hospital. I'll just pay my bi…"

"The first visit is taken care of bu…" Henry starts as George looks at him with determination. "This is the best place for you right now."

"I can take care of myself."

"Let me call your family," Jamie pleads as he looks at George in desperation.

"You have an amazing grandson there commissioner."

"Oh I know it," Henry replies with a proud smile that lingers for a few seconds before his expression turns serious again. "You need to just relax George."

"Can I call your family?"

"Jamie," Henry gently remarks as Jamie settles back down.

"No. I don't need family. Jamie, you have such a big heart but I'm … okay," George huffs with a strained breath as he slumps back down onto the bed.

"At least stay the night here," Henry suggests as he looks at George in sympathy. "It would make me feel better and I know Jamie will get some sleep if you did. Please? One grandfather to another?"

George looks at Henry's kind expression and then at Jamie's worried one, pausing before he finally nods. "Okay. But tonight only. And if they don't like it they can bill me," George states in sarcasm as Henry looks at Jamie with a small smile.

"I just want you to be okay," Jamie states as his hand gently takes George's and gives it a friendly squeeze.

"You're too kind to an old man like me. I'm staying for you. But the street is the only place I know."

"Those punks might come back," Henry states with a heavy frown. "At least go to…"

"No. I'm not going to a shelter."

"Please?" Jamie pleads once more as George looks up with a weak glance.

"Thank you for your help Jamie."

"We'll be by early tomorrow morning. I want you just to relax now," Henry instructs as his hand rests on George's shoulder. "You had a heart attack so they'll keep you here overnight to monitor. Take advantage of the help while it's offered."

Henry and Jamie finally take their leave; Jamie promising again to come early the next day to try to convince George to go to a shelter for at least a few days until he was sure the punks were tired of the game behind the bowling alley and moved on.

"Think he'll still be there in the morning?" Jamie asks as they head back outside to Henry's waiting SUV. Henry ops to get into the back with Jamie and allow his driver to ride solo in the front. "I just want to help."

"I know you do, but he's been alone for so long that he might think he's troubling us. We'll come by early tomorrow but don't be disappointed if he's gone or stubbornly refuses to go anywhere else but back to the alley. That's his home."

Jamie's head rests on Henry's shoulder as Henry's arm squeezes his shoulders and pulls him closer.

"Precious boy," he whispers as he kisses the top of Jamie's head. "You're very brave but…but I don't want you ever to put yourself in harms away for a stranger."

"But…"

"Two against one can easily turn ugly. If one pulled a knife or gun it'd be game over. Now I hate injustice as much as you and those preying on the homeless or helpless or anyone makes my blood boil and I would have charged in against them also. I'm not upset at what action you took. But you matter to me first. I love you Jamie and your life is precious to me…to your family. Never forget that."

Jamie looks up at Henry with an adoring smile and nods. The SUV finally reaches home and once inside, as suspected, Jamie is confronted by Danny and then Erin, both plying him with questions about what happened, asking if he's okay and then tending to his wounds. Henry calls Frank and fills him in as the three young people work at making dinner for them all in the kitchen.

"I really am okay," Jamie insists as Danny had taken him aside, letting Erin and Henry talk more about her day. Danny looks at Jamie's surface wounds as Jamie looks at him with a soft frown. "He's helpless Danny. I guess I should have picked up a pipe or something but I just charged. I…I guess I pulled a Danny," he ends with a smirk as Danny gently tilts his jaw upward. "I'm okay. I couldn't just stand by and watch…do nothing."

"What if one of the pulled a knife or gun?"

"Danny…"

"I'm just saying okay?"

"Henry said that too," Jamie huffs as he slumps down onto his bed and looks up in misery. "I didn't want him to die before I find his family. I don't want him to die at all. I know he's old but…why won't he go to a shelter?"

"What'd he say?"

"The street is his home but I think those guys will come back. Should I keep a baseball bat with me?"

"Yeah genius and then they'll come back with a gun. What then?"

"Fine," Jamie huffs as Frank's face appears in the doorway.

"I heard there was some excitement today," Frank mentions as he enters Jamie's bedroom, patting Danny on the back before he eases himself down beside Jamie on his bed. "You okay?"

"My head hurts a bit but I'm okay. I'm more worried about George?"

"How is he?"

"He's not good. He had a heart attack and he was roughed up pretty bad but I just want to help him. Danny and I have lived on the streets a bit, it's not a place for anyone," Jamie insists.

"I can understand your concern but you can't force someone to take something they don't want. Even if it's for their own good."

"What if those guys come back?" Jamie asks Frank with a heavy frown. "I can't just stand by and do nothing but Danny's right, violence just gets more violence and I don't want that either."

"Well…if you look at some pictures do you think you'll be able to pick them out for our officers to work on?"

"Yeah…I can try," Jamie readily agrees.

"Okay. And how was your day?" Frank looks up at Danny in question.

"Less exciting," Danny answers with a tight lipped smile.

Normally he'd just brush off the reply like it was no big deal, but as Frank studies Danny's tense frame and set jaw he knows something else is worrying him.

"Okay, let's get ready for supper. Go and help pop," Frank pats Jamie on the back, gently urging Jamie to give him and Danny a few minutes in private. "Danny?"

"Yeah I'm okay. I told him not to take the bat to work but I do worry those guys will come back. I mean I hope not but I worry they will and Jamie will be surprised and outnumbered over some homeless guy."

"I worry about that also but Jamie's got good street smarts."

"You're saying that to make who feel better?" Danny gently retorts as Frank's lips ease into a small smile.

"You're getting to know me too well," Frank replies as he gestures for Danny to sit. "But I sense something else is bothering you. Was it the talk of Sonny today?"

"No…well yes…that was part of it," Danny admits with a heavy sigh. "I know he won't be in there for life but um…"

"He'll be in there for many many years," Frank tries to reassure Danny and also himself.

"Good, that's good," Danny replies with a tight lipped smile as Frank frowns. "Can I uh…ah never mind."

"You can ask me anything and if I am able I will do my best to give you an honest answer. What's going on?"

"It's um…it's about you and Mary," Danny pauses as he mentions Frank's deceased wife, making Frank's dark brows gently arch higher.

"What about her?"

"Well it's about…did she ever have regrets marrying you?"

"Did Linda break up with you today?" Frank asks in concern.

"No no," Danny answers in haste. "I was just wondering. Were there ever you know…problems? Sorry…I guess that sounds like I'm prying."

"Anyone who is honest about their relationship and marriage will tell you it takes a lot of hard work, forgiveness and open communication. And that's when both people are on the same page."

"So your wife…she wanted to marry a cop right?"

"I'm sure there were times when she wished I had taken a safer profession. It's just not in the blood," Frank adds. "For me there really was no other option. Are you having second thoughts about joining the academy?"

"I was just wondering what it's like to be married to a cop or cops that have families and such."

"Did Linda say something?"

"Think she would if she didn't want to mar…okay maybe not marry but date a guy who wants to be a cop?" Danny inquires.

"From what I know about her I don't think she's the kind of woman that would suffer in silence. If she didn't want to marry a cop she'd be gone."

"Okay thanks."

"Danny…"

"Cops have crazy hours and um…some partners could resent that right?"

"Yes and some cops give their partners reason to resent that. But I don't think that's unique to the police profession."

"Yeah Firefighters too," Danny retorts with a snicker as Frank's face softens. "I didn't mean to pry."

"Think it was something natural to wonder about. I loved Mary very much and I think she felt the same in return and we had a lot of good times and I have lots of great memories," Frank relates with a tender smile. "But it was also hard work and a lot of patience, mostly on her part."

"Was there ever times she wanted to…you know leave?"

"There were times when we had some tough talk and some adjustments had to be made but I don't think leaving was ever on the table as an option. No matter how dark the times, if two people still have complete trust in each other and back that with love they'll work together to keep their marriage on the right track. You and Linda already talking divorce?" Frank gently teases, before his expression turns serious. "What is really bothering you Danny?"

"Just um…a guy at work. His brother's wife just left. He said they never shoulda married because they weren't suited. I don't know them and only hearing his side but it got me thinking. So I just thought I'd ask."

"Well you're right, you only know one side. I know you're nervous but you also know that Linda isn't going away anytime soon. You're both starting school in a few months and will be busy with that," Frank reminds him. "Just remember, whatever you do, work at it together. The ups…and especially the downs. Then you'll survive for a long time. But…you don't have to rush into anything."

"I know. Thank you," Danny tells Frank with a warm smile as they both stand up and Frank gives Danny a hug.

"Anytime," Frank says warmly as the two of them leave the bedroom and rejoin their family in the kitchen for a more informal dinner. During the meal Frank studies Danny's expression and can still feel the tension he's giving off. But he tells himself that maybe it was just a tough day at work for him and tomorrow would be better – hopefully for all of them.

Erin tells them about her day at the library and the bus accident and how she didn't think it was an accident at all and then her and her friends spent the bus ride back home debating on who would be the better lawyer to get the bus driver off.

"What if it was a rider on the bus?" Jamie interjects as Erin looks at him in wonder. "Well you know…maybe they wanted to see the accident and arranged for it to happen at that moment?"

"You can't just make a bus go where you want," Danny groans.

"No, but you can get to know the routes and then put in a place to distract the driver on the bike who was hit by the bus," Erin lightly argues back as all eyes turn to her and then Jamie as she adds, "I think you've just won a good argument in your favor counsellor."

Jamie's face beams from the compliment and he looks at Danny and sticks out his tongue as Danny just tosses a mock sour face back at him. "Besides when you're on the bus you need something to pass the time doing."

"Staging a near murder?" Erin asks as the other males around the table laugh.

After that the conversation turns to Jamie's situation with George and then what happened when Henry came to get him in the hospital.

"I don't get why he wouldn't just want to take advantage of the help," Danny comments as he looks at Henry in wonder.

"It's his life now."

"I'd want better," Jamie adds softly as he looks at Danny who nods. "But I still want to find out about his family."

"Speaking of family…" Frank starts with a small huff as he looks at his father with a small smile and then at the boys.

"I know. You both told me his family might not want to and he might not want to and I'm ready for that," Jamie assures them as Frank's expression softens.

"And for your own good, and ours, I'm glad you're taking that advice seriously. However, I want to talk about another family right now. Ours."

"What's…going on?" Danny asks with some nervousness in his tone.

"I have wanted to bring this question to you both for a few nights now but work has gotten in the way and I don't want to go another night with this on my mind."

"Did…we do something wrong?" Jamie asks in instant concern as Henry's hand rests on his and gives it's a squeeze.

"Not at all," Frank replies with a smile. "I would like to offer you two something that I'm hoping you'll be as excited to get as the three of us are ready to give."

"We get our own car?" Danny tosses back in wonder.

"No. The three of us have talked about this and we all agree that having you two here is…well we consider you family."

"We like being here."

"You're our family," both Danny and Jamie state at the same time; making all three Reagan's smile and nod in agreement.

"Over the past few months, feelings have become stronger and we're happy you both feel toward us the same we do toward you. However, I feel there is something missing. Something that might tell you both just how serious we are about having you both with us for the long term and offer you both a real fresh start."

"We can live here rent free?" Jamie retorts as Danny looks at him sharply and Jamie shrugs.

"I want to legally adopt you both. I want you both to take the last name Reagan. Danny and Jamie Reagan."

A/N: Well the big question has been dropped! Eeks! So first off…George will be okay (for now) but how will Jamie fare when George doesn't want to get extra medical help? And will he go against George's wishes and find George's family? Wanted Danny and Frank to talk a bit more but does this mean Danny's agitation is gone? BUT of course how will our boys react? Happy? Nervous? Negative? Will they want that change? Would love your thoughts as always so please do review before you go and thanks so much!

PS: So I know next week is the big holiday week and I'm wondering if people will want an update next week (the 26th) or I should wait until the week after. Please let me know in your review b/c if the majority will be away I don't mind waiting until the week after. Thanks everyone!